Package of articles



July 21, 1959 A. c. KRUKONIS PACKAGE OF ARTICLES Filed June 25, 1956 INVENTOR 2 ALEXANDER C.KRUKON| S United States Pate PACKAGE OF ARTICLES Alexander C. Krukonis, Auburn, Mass., assignor to Crompton & Knowles Corporation, Worcester, Mass., a corporation of Massachusetts Application June 25, 1956, Serial No. 593,582

1 Claim. (Cl. 206-4531) This invention relates to wrapping a group of articles in such a manner as to permit the application of a mark or stamp to each article without removing the wrapper in which the articles are held.

Manufacturers and wrappers of cigarette packages usually assemble, wrap and fasten the packages in bundles or the like without making any provision for the application of an excise tax stamp to the packages, a requirement in many of the states to which the bundles may be shipped throughout the nation. Distributors in such states must unfasten and unwrap each bundle, remove the packages from the wrapper, apply the stamps to the packages and rewrap the latter and fasten them into a bundle. This procedure is time-consuming and costly.

It is, therefore, an important object of the invention to provide a bundle of packages or articles which are partly enclosed in a wrapper having terminal edges between which a surface of each of the enclosed packages or articles is partially exposed thereby permitting the application of a mark or stamp without disturbing the fastener or removing the packages or articles from the bundle or wrapper.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved method of making a bundle of articles in such manner that the folding of the wrapper around the articles will leave a surface of each article between the terminal edges partly unwrapped to expose said surface of each article in the bundle.

Still another object of the invention is to provide wrapper means having a length between terminal edges less than the girth of the group of articles to be wrapped whereby, upon wrapping the articles, the edges of said wrapper means will be spaced from each other on at least one side of the group to expose a substantial surface of each of the articles.

A further object of the invention is to partially expose a surface of each article by providing an opening in the bundle extending lengthwise of the latter, and defined by the aforementioned terminal edges between which a mark or stamp can be applied to each exposed surface of each article.

A still further object of the invention is to provide wrapper means consisting of two sheets of material whereby, upon wrapping the aforementioned articles, the edges of one sheet will be spaced from and face the edges of the other sheet to partially expose the surfaces of certain of the articles on one side of the bundle and the surfaces of certain other of the articles on another side of the bundle for the application thereto of a mark or stamp.

After the wrapper means has been placed partially around the group of articles it is a still further object of the invention to provide fastener means to hold the wrapper means in position with respect to the articles and also hold adjacent articles to each other to form a strong, compact unit easy to handle, said fastener means also 'ice acting to protect the edges of the wrapper to prevent tearing thereof when the bundles are being handled.

For a further understanding of the invention, reference is made to the accompanying drawing which illustrates by way of example three embodiments of the invention and in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a bundle of articles or packages illustrating the preferred form of the invention,

Fig. 2 is an enlarged vertical section taken on line 2-2, Fig. 1, the contents of the package not shown in section for clarity, I

Fig. 3 is a plan view on a reduced scale of the wrapper for the bundle shown in Fig. 1,

Fig. 4 is a perspectiveview of a bundle showing the first modification of the invention,

Fig. 5 is an enlarged vertical section taken on line 5-5, Fig. 4, the contents of the packages not shown in section for clarity,

Fig. 6 is a plan, on a reduced scale, of the wrapper for the bundle shown in Fig. 4,

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of a bundle showing the second modification of the invention,

Fig. 8 is an enlarged vertical section on line 88 of Fig. 7, the contents of the packages not sectioned for clarity, and

Fig. 9 is a plan view of the wrapper, on a reduced scale, for the bundle shown in Fig. 7.

Referring to Fig. 1, a bundle generally indicated at B has a group G of packages P substantially enclosed in a wrapper 1. The packages P are arranged side by side in a single row and each package P has a surface 2 which is in alignment with the adjacent similar surface. Each of these surfaces 2 are unobstructed by any other package in the group and is accessible for application of a mark or stamp, as will be described hereinafter. The wrapper 1 is made from a comparatively thin foldable sheet such as paper, cellophane, etc. and is fastened in position around the packages P by any convenient means, such as adhesive tapes 3, and its ends are folded in any well known manner as shown for instance in Fig. 1 at the left-hand end thereof.

As shown in Fig.1 the wrapper 1 has two top flat portions 4 and 5 substantially parallel to and upon a part of the aligned surfaces 2. Portions 4 and S extend in a direction lengthwise of the bundle B and have terminal edges 6 and 7 respectively to define an elongated open space 8 therebetween to substantially expose surfaces 2. The distance of the wrapper between the edges 6 and 7 is shorter than the girth of the group of packages measured in a direction transverse of said edges. The wrapper 1 has front and back portions 9 and 10 respectively, see Figs. 2 and 3, contiguous with a bottom portion 11. Bundle B, Figs. 1 and 2, has top, bottom and end folds or bends 12 and 13, 14 and 15, 16 and 17 respectively which are also indicated by dot and dash lines in Fig. 3. These lines in Fig. 3 are not actually printed or otherwisepresent on the wrapper 1 but are merely indicated to show where the folds or bends will occur.

When a bundle is to be assembled the packages P will be grouped side by side and placed on the wrapper 1 in the space or area bounded by the lines 14 to 17 after which the portions 8 and 9 will be folded along the front and back sides respectively of the packages followed by the folding of the portions 4 and 5 along the top of the packages as seen for instance in Fig. 2. The ends of the wrapper then are folded into position to complete the wrapping. The terminal edges 6 and 7 fall short of each other for the reasons stated hereinbefore. Upon the completion of wrapping the packages the fasteners or tapes 3 are applied as suggested in Figs. 1 and 2. Parts of the tapes will adhere to the wrapper and packages simultaneously to hold the wrapper in position and adjacent packages to each other. These tapes act to hold the edges down and flat on the surfaces of the packages to facilitate the placing :of a stamp or mark on the surface when the bundles are being handled manually or mechanically.

In the first modification of the invention, referring particularly to Fig. 4, -a bundle generally indicated at B1 has its packages P1 arranged end up with theiriflat broad sides vertical and at the front and back sides of the bundle. A wrapper substantially surrounds the packages P1 and has flat top portions 21 and 22 with terminal edges 23 and 24 respectively. 'Bundle B1, see Figs. 4 and 5, has top, bottom and end folds or :bends.25 and 26, 27 and 28, 29 and 30 respectively which are-also represented by dot and, ,dash lines in Fig. :6 and shown therein for the same reasons given with reference to .Fig. 3. Top cross tapes 32 and -end tapes33 hold the wrapper 29 in position around thepaoka'ges P1.

When a bundle is to be made up as shown in Fig. 4 the packagesll are grouped as illustrated in that figure and placed on the wrapper 20 in the space defined by the lines 27-30 after'which thewrapper is folded around the packages in a manner similar to that explained with reference to the preferred form of the invention. The tapes 32 and 33 are then'appli'ed-to firmly hold the bundle together. If desired, the bundle B1 may be held together by using the tapes illustrated inF-ig. l and applying them along the portions 21 and 22 and thence downwardly to hold the end folds and the wrapper in position around the packages.

In the modification shown in Fig. 7 a brindle generally indicated at' B2 has its packages P2 grouped in the same manner as shown in Fig. 4. In this case, however, the packages P2 'are wrapped so that a broad surface 34 of each package P2, Fig. 8, is exposed. The packages are partly enclosed in wrappers 36 and 37 which are identical, but not necessarily so, and only one will be described, namely, wrapper 37. In Fig. 9 the wrapper 37 has shown thereon dot and dash lines 38-41 to indicate where the folds or bends will occur when the packages are wrapped. The wrapper 37 has terminal edges 42 and 43 which will face and be spaced from similar edges on wrapper 36 when the wrappers are in position around the packages as shown in Fig. 8. A tape 44 at the left end of the bundle, .Fig. 7., holds the wrappers in fixed relationship with each other. In like manner a tape (not shown) at the other end of the bundle is employed for the same purpose as is tape 44.

When a bundle is to be assembled as shown in Fig. 7 the packages P2 will be grouped as seen in that figure and set in the space bounded by lines 38 to 41. The wrapper 37 then will be partially folded up and around the packages and in like manner the wrapper 36 will be partially folded down and around the packages. Tape 44 will then be applied to the ends of the bundle to'hold the end folds and wrapper in position. Tapes such as are illustrated in Figs. 1 or 4 may be used with or without tape 44 if desired.

It is to be understood that the tapes are only one means of fastening the wrappers in place, and any other means may be used, such as a wrapper having gummed surfaces adjacent its edges or made of a heat sealed thermoplastic sheet. Moreover the invention is not limited to the quantity or type of articles or arrangements thereof, as shown in the drawing. It is obvious that other quantities, types of articles or arrangements may be employed.

When the marks or stamps are to be applied to the packages (in all three forms of the invention) the bundles will be .placed on a support S and the marks or stamps applied to the exposed surfaces of the packages or articles between the terminal edges of the wrappers. Each package or article will .have at least apart of one surface unobstructed by any other article and accessible to receive the mark or stamp.

From the foregoing it will be seen that the invention provides a group of articles or packages wrapped in such a manner as to have at least one unobstructed and accessible surface of each article partly exposed to receive a mark, stamp or .the like. The articles are partially enclosed in Wrapper means having a length less than the girth of the group of articles to be wrapped, whereby, upon completion of wrapping, certain edges of the wrapper means will fall short of each other to form an open space between said edges to expose on at least one side of the group of articles surfaces for the application thereto of a mark or stamp. Also, provision is made to hold the wrapper in wrapped position whilearound the articles at the same time, -holding adjacent articles or packages to each other. The invention also sets forth the method whereby the articles are arranged in a group after which wrapper means is folded around the group to leave at least part of the surface of each article unwrapped.

Having now described and ascertained the nature of the invention and in'what manner the same is to be per formed, it will be seen that changes and modifications may be made without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention, and what is claimed is:

In an elongated bundle, a group of articles each of which has an accessible surface to be stamped, wrapper means partially folded around the group of articles in a manner to form an opening between the edges of the wrapper to expose said surfaces, said opening extending along at least on one side of the bundle in a direction lengthwise thereof, and fastener means holding the articles and wrapper fixed with respect to each other, said fastener means substantially overlapping said edges to hold the latter down and to maintain the greater part of said opening constant to facilitate the placing of a "stamp or mark onsa-id surfaces.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,296,765 Christensen Mar. 11, 1919 2,129,888 Tamarin Sept. 13. 1938 2,226,089 Anthony et al Dec. 24, 1940 2,395,558 Lighter Feb. 26, 1946 2,408,616 Eldredge Oct. 1, 1946 2,625,775 Tamarin et al. Jan. 20, 1953 2,779,526 Vogt Jan. 29, 1957 

